Florida woman dies of influenza shortly after giving birth

MERRITT ISLAND, Florida (WESH) -- A Florida woman has died of influenza, shortly after giving birth.

The woman contracted the flu while pregnant, then delivered a healthy baby but was unable to recover, and doctors took her off life support, said Dr. Rajee Paul, Merritt Island Walk-In Clinic spokesman.

She was in her mid-20s and delivered her baby in December before being hospitalized at the Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, said Dr. Heidar Heshmati, director of the county Health Department.

She is the second woman to die from the flu in Brevard County this month.